Fountaingate Gardens community members Audrey Goodfriend and Phyllis Stark put their creative talents together to “crochet for a cause”, creating blankets to support the efforts of We Care Blankets, a charity devoted to providing hand crafted blankets for children and young adults undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Both avid knitters and crocheters, the two friends were pleased to support a cause that aligned with their skills and interests. Recently they welcomed Tamara Baker, founder of the charity, to their community to donate more than a dozen blankets stitched with love.
Baker started We Care Blankets more than two decades ago when she discovered how cold children undergoing cancer treatment can be while in the hospital. According to Baker, “We have a network of more than 25 hospitals, and we supply them with 15,000 blankets each year, keeping children warm and comforted while they battle cancer. I’m so thankful for volunteers like Phyllis and Audrey.
“I think this is an amazing cause for those who are going through such difficult and challenging times,” Stark said while packing the blankets for pick up. “It creates a positive impact not only on the recipients, but also on the broader community, inspiring others to get involved!”
Goodfriend, who crochets while attending the weekly Fountaingate Gardens’ Needlers Group as well as while watching her NY Mets play, said, “Combining passions and interest with a purposeful act is a win-win situation; we enjoy our leisure time, but also make a positive difference in the lives of others.”
Baker noted that a network of volunteers meets regularly to wrap the blankets she has gathered from her volunteers, usually wrapping between one and two thousand blankets for delivery to the many hospitals in the We Care Blankets network. For information or to volunteer for We Care Blankets, contact 516-797-2250 or visit their website at www.wecareblankets.org/volunteer.
About Fountaingate Gardens
Fountaingate Gardens, sponsored by Gurwin Healthcare System, is an elegant, 129-apartment independent living community located on Gurwin’s 36-acre campus in Commack. The addition of Fountaingate Gardens completes Gurwin’s vision of an on-campus Life Plan Community (also known as a Continued Care Retirement Community, or CCRC) providing Long Islanders with independent living and assisted living options, short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, memory care, and other healthcare services — all on one campus.
Fountaingate Gardens offers a vibrant, Blue Zone-inspired lifestyle promoting longevity for active adults aged 62 years and older. The community is comprised of beautiful apartment homes, myriad wellness-focused amenities and programs, and multiple dining options, and offers its members future financial and healthcare security. Visit FountaingateLI.org to learn more about this unique senior independent living community or call 631-715-2693.
About Gurwin Healthcare System
The Gurwin Healthcare System is a renowned healthcare provider offering a full continuum of healthcare and senior living services for medically complex individuals and older adults. Services provided at the Center include skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, advanced care, ventilator and respiratory care, on-site dialysis, memory care, palliative and hospice care, as well as both medical and social adult day programs. The 36-acre campus is also home to the Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences assisted living community, Gurwin Home Care Agency, and a new independent living community, Fountaingate Gardens. The System also includes the newly acquired Island Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility located in Holtsville, Long Island. For more information, visit www.gurwin.org. Follow Gurwin on Facebook (bit.ly/GurwinNursingRehab) and Twitter (@GurwinJewish).
###
